A stem cell or bone marrow transplant may be an option for some patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia; this procedure is usually done after an initial remission is achieved.
In a transplant, hematopoietic stem cells -- blood-forming cells -- are filtered from a donor's marrow or bloodstream and then stored. The patient then receives a high dose of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which destroys tumor cells but also damages the stem cells in the patient's bone marrow. The harvested stem cells are then reinfused to help rebuild the patient's immune system.
For more detailed information about Memorial Sloan-Kettering's transplant services and clinical research, please visit Blood & Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation.
